PAHALGAM
Pahalgam, “mini Switzerland” in the pristine Kashmir Valley has always been a favourite with the tourists, also an ideal locale for film shootings. With the onset of Summers, tourists were thronging the Kashmir Valley in thousands, enjoying the fruits of normalisation of situation, post abrogation of Article 370. As a consequence, complacency tends to set in, we had to pay a vey heavy price of this security lapse. 28 precious lives snuffed out brutally, the perpetrators making it a point to confirm the religious identity of the victim before shooting him.
As a first step, diplomatic actions have been initiated, suspension of Indus Water Treaty being the principal one amongst them. It is a contentious issue with many analysts asking the pertinent question that in the absence of any water storage infrastructure, is it merely tokenism or is there some tangible gain expected to accrue from this action. We have to trust our leaders that they must have also debated this before announcing these actions. What next?
The dilemma which Indian Govt is faced with right now is, what will be the befitting response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, as Balakot type air strikes or surgical strike post Uri are practically ruled out. The reason is obvious, surprise is the major factor at play in such actions and our neighbour is expecting us and is ready with his arsenal in place. Modi ji has sprung surprises and the Armed Forces played their role to perfection inflicting serious damage to the terrorist camps, keeping the threshold below a full scale war. Armchair analysts sitting in air-conditioned studios wage their own brand of warfare on a daily basis, but wars are fought with a purpose, keeping an end state in mind and India would do well not to get sucked into a Russia-Ukraine kind of abyss. But that does not mean punitive action should not be taken, and I am sure that kinetic action will follow and will not be on predictable lines.
We as citizens also have a role to play, instead of venting our impotent rage on social media platforms, can we form groups comprising not just hundreds, not just thousands but in lakhs cutting across religious lines, march into the Valley with Muslim brothers leading the charge. Simply swamp the terrorists, their sympathisers, overwhelm them, spread out into the valley every nook and corner, take your vehicles, hire transport, be self sufficient. Strength is in our numbers, and don’t you forget, if we are 100 of us and four of these terrorists confront us, we can charge on them, they can kill may be five or injure another couple but ultimately they will be scared and will run away, chase them. Prove it to the world that we can’t be scared by these cowards.
I know this sounds radical, but the message goes home to their backers that we can’t afford to fool around any longer. This attack is not just on tourists, it is against the idea of India and we Indians will leave no stone unturned to protect not just this idea but also our people and our boundaries.